Posada Disgraces, Puts Yankees at Risk With Cheap Shot

Courtesy Yankees 'N More">Yankees 'N More

It's getting tougher and tougher to have any appreciation for Jorge Posada beyond what he does with a bat in his hands.

Here's a catcher who can't muster the intestinal fortitude to block a plate on a close play, or even a breaking ball in the dirt, for that matter. But he has no problem throwing a cheap-shot elbow at a middle reliever who, moments earlier, threw a pitch behind him.

In a game the Blue Jays had well in hand, Yankees reliever Mark Melancon drilled Toronto star Aaron Hill with a pitch during the top of the eighth inning. Hill was the second Toronto player to be hit with a pitch in the game.

In the bottom of the eighth, Jays reliever Jesse Carlson actually did Posada the favor of "retaliating" by throwing a pitch BEHIND him. He didn't even get hit. That SHOULD have been the end of it, and Posada SHOULD have counted himself lucky.

But three batters later, Brett Gardner doubled home Posada, who then threw a half-aced forearm shiver when he passed Carlson, who was backing up home plate on the play.

Posada was immediately tossed, and then charged Carlson, which only served to make the situation even worse. Thanks entirely to Posada's absurd overreaction, both benches emptied, the Yankees risked injury to all their stars, and you can bet money that suspensions are coming.

Of those suspensions, none should be more severe than Posada's. His complete lack of self control is the only reason there was ever an issue in this game.

If you're looking for a silver lining for this cloud, it's a near certainty that the Yankees will see their team ERA dip with Jose Molina and Francisco Cervelli sharing the catching duties while Posada is serving his suspension.

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